2025 NFL playoffs: One reason every postseason workforce can win Tremendous Bowl LIX, together with Steelers, Packers

In some ways, the beginning of the NFL playoffs is very similar to the primary week of the steady season. There is a feeling of newness within the air, along side the optimism from fan bases that this could be the yr when one thing particular takes position. 

With that during thoughts, we determined to checklist one reason every workforce within the 2025 postseason can win the Tremendous Bowl. The Kansas Chiefs and Detroit Lions could also be the front-runners of their respective meetings, however every workforce within the playoffs has one thing that makes them a sound danger to win Tremendous Bowl LIX. 

Groups indexed so as in their seedings 

AFC

Want we are saying extra? Sure, the Chiefs are a lot more than a one-man display. The Chiefs’ intensity on the talent positions, in spite of everything, is a huge reason why for his or her 15-2 regular-season file and will likely be a large element to their luck if they may be able to win an exceptional 0.33 instantly Tremendous Bowl. Kansas Town’s protection additionally loved a stellar steady season, score within the height 10 within the NFL in fewest issues allowed. 

The Chiefs’ luck stops and ends with Mahomes, who regardless of now not even being 30 has already gained two league MVPs and 3 Tremendous Bowl MVP awards. This wasn’t his very best yr from a statistical perspective, however like Tom Brady, Mahomes would gladly business particular person accolades for championship trophies. There are extra prolific quarterbacks, however Mahomes continues to be the king of the hill, with a 15-3 playoff file besides. 

Allen is coming off the most efficient steady season of his profession, a season that noticed him scale back significantly on his turnovers whilst nonetheless hanging up giant numbers. This season, Allen changed into the primary quarterback in NFL historical past with a couple of seasons with a minimum of 25 landing passes and 12 landing runs. 

Allen’s talent hasn’t ended in a Tremendous Bowl look for the Expenses but; what makes this season other? Like Mahomes, Allen’s workforce has intensity on the talent positions, led through operating again James Cook dinner, who led the NFL in dashing touchdowns. Allen will want one in every of his wideouts to step up because the No. 1 goal this postseason, although. 

Henry, who celebrated his thirty first birthday right through Baltimore’s division-clinching win over Cleveland, seems to be the similar participant who loved a ancient postseason run with the Titans in 2019 that fell simply wanting the Tremendous Bowl. Henry ran for a whopping 446 yards in 3 postseason video games, and there may be not anything that may recommend that he is not in a position to mimicking that form of luck over the following month. 

All the way through the season, the Ravens monitored Henry’s workload with the intention to stay him recent for the stretch run. Following Baltimore’s Week 14 bye, Henry ran for 514 yards whilst serving to the Ravens shut out the steady season with 4 instantly wins. Incorporated in that extend was once a 162-yard day out towards the Steelers, the workforce the Ravens will play host to on Saturday night time within the wild-card spherical. 

We might be remiss to not point out Henry’s quarterback, Lamar Jackson, who’s coming off his very best season thus far (which is announcing one thing, for the reason that he’s already the landlord of 2 league MVP awards). Henry’s presence must take a large amount of the weight off of Jackson, whose earlier playoff disasters are in large part because of him seeking to do an excessive amount of. 

(4) Houston Texans: Bold go rush duo 

The Texans are identified extra nowadays for his or her offense, led through quarterback C.J. Stroud, however it is the duo of go rushers Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. that can be the principle factor that assists in keeping Houston alive within the playoffs past the wild-card spherical. 

A four-time Professional Bowler, Hunter (who was once bought this previous offseason) tallied 12 sacks and 17 tackles for loss right through his first season in Houston. Anderson, who recorded 11 sacks in 14 video games, is wholesome after accidents hindered him every now and then right through the steady season. 

The duo led a Texans go rush that completed the season one sack shy of fifty. Houston’s go rush will likely be necessary this weekend towards Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, who, like Anderson, battled thru his personal accidents previous this season. 

Jim Harbaugh has for sure advanced the Chargers right through his first season in Los Angeles. The unit, twenty fourth within the NFL in issues allowed ultimate yr, was once tops within the league in that division in 2024. Now not strangely, the Chargers are 5th within the NFL in third-down potency and primary in red-zone potency. 

The Chargers’ protection has numerous just right gamers, led through protection Derwin James, who crammed the stat sheet this season with 93 tackles, 5.5 sacks and an interception. James and Co. have constantly put Justin Herbert and the Chargers’ offense in favorable eventualities this season, and that are meant to proceed to be the case within the postseason. 

Pittsburgh’s season has been stuffed with ups and downs, however two constants were Chris Boswell and a protection that has been a few of the league’s very best when wholesome. 

Boswell is coming off arguably his very best steady season thus far that incorporated his 2d Professional Bowl variety. The Steelers’ protection, which was once with out a number of key gamers right through the workforce’s late-season swoon, must be close to complete energy on Saturday with beginning cornerback Donte Jackson (again) being a complete player right through Wednesday’s apply. 

Boswell and Pittsburgh’s protection could be simply sufficient to get them previous Baltimore within the wild-card spherical, however Mike Tomlin’s workforce will want his offense to accomplish higher than they have got in fresh weeks if the Steelers are going to make a Tremendous Bowl run. They particularly want extra from wideout George Pickens, who stuck only one go for 0 yards in Pittsburgh’s Week 18 loss to the Bengals. 

Led through its go rush (which led the NFL with 63 sacks right through the steady season), the Broncos’ protection has been stellar for many of the yr. However the unit has had some hiccups in fresh weeks, permitting a mixed 64 issues in consecutive video games towards the Chargers and Bengals past due within the season. 

The offense, although, has persevered to make stronger because the season has advanced, with rookie quarterback Bo Nix being a large reason. After being held to twenty issues or much less six occasions right through its first 10 video games, Denver’s offense averaged just about 33 issues right through its ultimate seven regular-season video games. 

To be truthful, numerous that luck got here towards one of the NFL’s weaker defenses. It is going to be fascinating to peer if Nix and Co. can emulate their fresh luck towards a Expenses protection that flourishes on getting turnovers. 

NFC

(1) Detroit Lions: Historical past-making quartet 

Detroit’s top-ranked scoring offense contains some history-makers in operating backs David Bernard Law Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs and wideouts Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. The quartet changed into the primary teammates in NFL historical past to every file over 1,000 all-purpose yards in a season. Bernard Law Montgomery is slated to go back for the divisional spherical after struggling an MCL harm again in Week 15. 

The Lions’ offense has been buzzing all season, however accidents led to a few struggles defensively right through the again part of the season. Detroit’s protection is coming off of an inspiring efficiency towards the Vikings. The Lions allowed simply 9 issues that was once in large part the results of blanketing protection of Minnesota’s wideouts. 

Barkley was once delivered to Philadelphia to lend a hand infuse existence right into a workforce that ended the 2023 season with six losses in its ultimate seven video games. Barkely did simply that and extra whilst making NFL historical past within the procedure. 

The previous New York Large introduced a laugh again to the Eagles in his pursuit of Eric Dickerson’s single-season dashing file. Barkley’s offensive line particularly took enjoyment of serving to him turn into the 9th participant in historical past to hurry for over 2,000 yards in a season. Barkley’s team-first method in Week 18 (he agreed to relaxation with a number of different teammates as a substitute of seeking to wreck Dickerson’s file) will most probably pay dividends when the Eagles host the Packers on Sunday. 

Barkley’s presence looms even better now with Jalen Hurts operating his long ago from a concussion that sidelined him for Philadelphia’s ultimate two preseason video games. Like 49ers operating again Christian McCaffrey did a yr in the past, Barkley is greater than in a position to main his workforce to the Tremendous Bowl. 

Led through Baker Mayfield, the Buccaneers’ offense is in a position to retaining tempo with any workforce within the league. Mayfield, whose profession has been revitalized in Tampa Bay, changed into the second one quarterback in NFL historical past this season to throw for a minimum of 40 touchdowns in a season. Mayfield did that — along with main the NFL’s fourth-highest scoring offense — regardless of Chris Godwin struggling a season-ending harm in Week 7. 

Mayfield’s number one goal is still Mike Evans, the ageless surprise who ultimate week tied Jerry Rice’s NFL file of eleven consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Evans has been complemented through the emergence of tight finish Cade Otton, rookie receiver Jalen McMillan and fellow rookie Bucky Irving, who gathered over 1,500 all-purpose yards this season. 

One the Buccaneers’ maximum deadly property is the truth that they’re tops within the NFL on 0.33 down. It is onerous to attain should you do not need the ball, and that’s what the Buccaneers will attempt to do to opposing groups this postseason, beginning with Sunday’s sport towards the Commanders. 

It is secure to mention that the Rams are constructed for the force cooker that’s the NFL playoffs. Of the Rams’ 10 regular-season wins, 8 got here in one-score video games. The Rams gained in a mess of the way, too, which is one more reason why Sean McVay’s workforce will likely be a difficult out. 

The Rams can beat you in a shootout or in a defensive duel. Simply do not rely at the Rams beating themselves as Los Angeles has dedicated simply 3 turnovers in its ultimate 8 video games. To be able to beat the Rams, you want to overcome them. 

Do not rely on scoring a number of touchdowns within the pink zone towards them, both. The Rams boasted the NFL’s fifth-ranked scoring protection within the steady season. A large reason was once the play in their younger defensive backs, led through Kamren Kinchens. Linebacker Christian Rozeboom has been a stud, too, filling the stat sheet with 135 tackles, a sack and an interception. 

(5) Minnesota Vikings: Embarrassment of offensive riches 

It must be famous that the Vikings have one of the most league’s height defenses that leads the NFL with 24 choices, is fourth in third-down potency and primary on fourth down. The Vikings’ protection has in large part been overpassed this yr, however they may not be if the Vikings are ready to make a playoff run. 

Offensively, numerous the point of interest has rightfully been on Sam Darnold and his breakout season. Darnold has taken good thing about one of the most NFL’s private receiving corps, led through Justin Jefferson, who’s arguably the league’s very best receiver. Darnold additionally has a confirmed postseason performer at his disposal in Aaron Jones, who ran for over 100 yards in every of Inexperienced Bay’s two playoff video games ultimate yr. 

Darnold had an off night time towards the Lions in Week 18. However so long as Donald is correct, it is onerous to fathom a protection shutting down the Vikings’ offense, which must bode neatly for Minnesota’s Tremendous Bowl possibilities. 

Soccer is a workforce recreation, however it is onerous not to focal point on Daniels when having a look on the Commanders’ playoff possibilities. Daniels has loved a ancient rookie marketing campaign whilst main Washington to its first playoff berth since 2020. At the side of being a extremely environment friendly passer, Daniels led the Commanders in dashing whilst averaging a whopping 6 yards consistent with elevate. 

Daniels has loved an rapid rapport with Terry McLaurin, the Commanders’ gifted wideout who stuck a career-high 13 touchdowns. Daniels additionally had a a hit partnership with veteran tight finish Zach Ertz, whose seven landing grabs this yr is his perfect overall since 2018. 

Now not strangely, defenses have attempted to take each gamers away, particularly McLaurin. Daniels has countered through spreading the ball round extra to his different playmakers, together with Olamide Zaccheaus, a 5-foot-8, former undrafted rookie who stuck 3 touchdowns in Washington’s ultimate 3 regular-season video games. Search for Daniels to proceed to check out to unfold the wealth right through the playoffs with the intention to stay protection’s off-guard. 

(7) Inexperienced Bay Packers: Presence of bodily, former dashing champion

This weekend’s showdown between the Eagles and Packers is a throwback in that it options two of the NFL’s very best operating backs in Jacobs and Barkley. Each gamers thrived on new groups this season and need to proceed that luck right through the playoffs. 

Inexperienced Bay will lean much more on Jacobs now given the wounds it’s having on all sides of the ball, together with at receiver. A former dashing champion, Jacobs performed in only one playoff sport in 5 years with the Raiders, so you’ll be able to relaxation confident that he’s chomping on the bit to get his first elevate on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. ET.

Jacobs is flexible, however he’s before everything a bodily again who has a nostril for the tip zone. He ran for 14 touchdowns in Inexperienced Bay’s ultimate 10 steady season video games that incorporated a minimum of one within the ultimate 8 video games. Jacobs’ tricky operating and Inexperienced Bay’s opportunistic protection is just right sufficient to guide Inexperienced Bay to an disappointed in Philadelphia, and most likely greater than that.